senseless

comparative more senseless · superlative most senseless · alternative obsolete senselesse

1. Without feeling or desire to work; deprived of sensation.

   The blow to his head rendered him senseless; he didn’t awaken until he was in the ambulance.

   1 more example

   That hoary man had spent his livelong age / In converse with the dead, who leave the stamp / Of ever-burning thoughts on many a page, / When they are gone into the senseless damp / Of graves; […]

   1818, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “(please specify the page)”, in The Revolt of Islam; […], London: […] [F]or C[harles] and J[ames] Ollier, […]; by B[uchanan] M‘Millan, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number)

   Synonyms: unconscious, insensible

2. Lacking meaning or purpose; without common sense.

   What a senseless waste of money.

   Synonyms: pointless, meaningless

3. Without a discernible meaning or purpose, especially of a violent or evil act.

   The school shooting was a senseless act of violence.

   2 more examples

   Addressing the nation on Thursday, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the shooting “a senseless attack” and said “this Christmas will be unimaginably sad.”

   2023 December 22, Ivana Kottasová, “Prague in shock and horror after ‘senseless’ shooting attack leaves 14 dead”, in CNN

   At the news conference, Crump called her killing “senseless on every level.”

   2024 July 24, Emma Tucker and Bill Kirkos, “What we know about the deputy charged with killing Sonya Massey in her home after she called 911 for help”, in CNN

4. Without consideration, awareness or sound judgement

   He took senseless risks, not even aware of the danger he was in.

   1 more example

   [T]he King vvas obliged to qualify his grant, by eſtabliſhing betvveen the contending parties a rotation of ſeniority, each to take place alternately for a year, the ſurvivor to precede for his life the heir of the other, and ſo in perpetuum. A ſenſeleſs jumble, ſoon liquidated by a more egregious act of folly, the King vvith his ovvn hand crovvning the young Duke of VVarvvick King of the Iſle of VVight— […]

   1762, Horace Walpole, “State of Painting from the Reign of Henry III. to the End of Henry VI.”, in Anecdotes of Painting in England; […], volume I, London: […] Thomas Farmer […], →OCLC, pages 39–40

   Synonyms: unreasonable, unwise, stupid